How to declutter under the kitchen sink

The area underneath the kitchen sink can get so full of partially used cleaning supplies and who-knows-what that it makes it hard to close the cabinet door – and a bit of a chemical hazard!

Amazingly, however, with an investment of only 15 minutes, you can usually whip that clutter chaos into shape. So, let’s get into clearing out and organising that disaster area underneath your kitchen sink.

An organised cabinet under the sink can happen in just 15 minutes. Picture: Getty

Decluttering and organising under the kitchen sink takes only a few simple steps.

Start with a little preparation

Grime and chemicals are not a great combination so if you have a pair of rubber gloves lying around, this is one of those times that you should put them on. Also, protect surface areas like the floor or kitchen counter by laying out some old newspaper. You’re about to remove everything from the cupboard so an old cardboard box or rubbish bin should be close by, too.

Cleaning under the kitchen sink is one of those times when you should definitely wear rubber gloves. Picture: Getty

Clear the space and see what you have

Start by pulling everything out of the cupboard – the good, the bad and the gross! Keep only those things that pass all three of the following tests:

Is it something you use regularly?

Does it have an expiry date on it that hasn’t passed?

Is the packaging on it still in good condition or does it look like it’s about to leak out all over the place?

Clear the space to see what you have and give the surface a thorough clean. Picture: Getty

Discard or keep – your call

For the things that you’re going to discard keep in mind that most cleaning supplies are safe to dispose of in the rubbish; however, READ THE LABEL carefully. Many items like oven cleaners, batteries, paint supplies, etc., are not suitable for the rubbish and must be disposed of properly. Local councils usually have a system for the collection and disposal of these kinds of items – so check first and dispose responsibly.

Sort the remaining items into like categories. You’ll probably be surprised at how much you find that’s still useable. However, if there are containers with just barely enough worth keeping, think about combining like products or, better still, doing a quick on-the-spot cleaning job with that bit.

Clear and clean the space

Give that area underneath the kitchen sink a good clean and wipe out. Start cleaning as far back as possible and keep moving forward. If it’s dark down there, grab your phone and turn on the flashlight. While you’re at it check for possible water leaks – slow drips can cause serious problems if left unchecked.

Regroup and reload

Once that area is clean and dry, grab a few small plastic buckets, tubs or storage containers – and place them in the cabinet. It’s better if these storage containers have handles.

When you’re returning items under the sink, arrange them by CLEANING JOB. So, for instance, put all of the products you need to dust furniture in one container; in the next put all the products you use to clean the bathrooms; one for the kitchen bench tops; etc. You’ll thank yourself in the future when you can just grab one storage container and make your way to whatever area you’re looking to clean up.

The containers also help you keep reasonable limits on the amount of cleaning supplies you need. And, they help keep you informed on what you’re running low on. The bottom line is that this should help save you money by not letting you buy more than you currently need.

Store what you want to keep in containers – ones with handles are ideal. Picture: Ikea

Does it need baby-proofing?

Does that area underneath your sink need a child- or pet-proof lock on it? Keep in mind that because this area is generally low to the ground, curious fingers and snouts tend to get in there. These locks are easy to use and are available at most hardware stores. At a minimum, throw a few rubber bands around the door handles (that’s not nearly as good a solution, but it works temporarily until you can get to the store).

If you have a little one, don’t forget to baby proof! Picture: Getty

Now, for those little bits of cleaning products that you found, go use them up and take great pleasure in the fact that you’ve accomplished a lot in a pretty reasonable amount of time.

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